The municipal sector employs 80,000 people and has a budget of 25 million

Said that the degree of satisfaction had not reached our ambitions at a round table of the Economic Forum of Mecca

The Minister of Trade and Investment and Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Majid Bin Abdullah Al Qassabi, said that the Ministry of Municipalities is responsible for the full development of infrastructure projects in all cities of the Kingdom , from design and planning to implementation, from supervision to control and monitoring, Licensing

In addition, the minister pointed out that Saudi cities had experienced very rapid growth and horizontal and longitudinal expansion geographically, which ensured cost security, coverage of services and infrastructure, but no increase in services in quantity and quality. amount. There is an imbalance.

Al-Qasabi explained that the Kingdom's municipal sector employs 80,000 people and that its budget for this year 2019 amounts to 25 billion Saudi Riyals, in addition to 10 billion of the transformation budget. The sector is made up of 268 municipalities and 17 municipalities. He pointed out that the functions of the municipal sector were very large and complex and that it was now aimed at involving the private sector, improving the quality of services and encouraging cooperation and partnership with government agencies.

At the panel discussion titled "Implications for Improving the Business Environment on the Development of the Urban Future of the Mecca Region", Mr. Al-Qasabi explained that, although that the municipal sector is one of the most common and interdependent sectors of the sector The private sector in many aspects of development and investment, but cooperation between the two sectors does not not yet reached the desired level. Therefore, we are developing the investment system, thanks to a platform of investment opportunities, and have set up an electronic platform to transform the municipality into digital services, but the ambitions are even greater .

He pointed out that the total projects approved in the municipality during the current year amounted to 8 billion Saudi Riyals distributed as follows: Holy Capital Mecca 3 ½ years and the city of Jeddah 2 billion and a half, Taif 2 billion and 200,000 riyals.

Al Qusbi noted that the world was witnessing a wave of change and was turning to virtual transactions, stressing the need to keep pace with this development by activating the digital transformation with the adoption of smart city infrastructure , and indicated that the municipal sector was working on the establishment of a comprehensive partnership program aimed at improving citizens' experience and citizenship. Cities are thus an intelligent experience and access to fast and refined service.

Al-Qasabi pointed out that the Ministry of Municipalities had developed a strategy and vision for the future covering all cultural, social and religious dimensions, including the Al-Mukarramah region for a better quality of life and an increased role for the private sector and an improved visual stage to deal with the slum phenomenon. Rehabilitation of residential districts with a budget of 100 million riyals and visual deformation projects of 453 million riyals.

"The investment is not a goal, it is a result.It is the result of a stable and healthy investment environment and system that offer in turn investment opportunities in any part of the world.Investment knows neither identity nor language but recognizes only the environment and opportunities ", did he declare. An integrated system and an e-commerce council have been put in place, and several initiatives to improve the business climate, including Taysir and Maras, will be published soon after two or three weeks. The Saudi Economic Council will collect all licenses related to all parties on the same platform. We have also reduced the licensing steps and procedures.

Al-Qasabi pointed out that the degree of satisfaction of the Ministry of Commerce and Investment has not reached the level of our ambitions and that we are working diligently and have taken further steps to eliminate the phenomenon of commercial fraud. For the first time, more than 20 initiatives to fight against concealment, for the first time in real confrontation, A hidden danger facing the homeland.

Regarding SMEs, Al Qasabi said that the largest Middle East trade show was held in Jeddah to support small businesses, confirming the control of 12 billion RS to support small and medium enterprises. Loans were granted to beneficiaries in billions of riyals. Funding of 485 promising facilities. We have also restructured the sponsorship program and increased its capital, in addition to activating the visa system. The Minister affirmed that the most important success of the current period is the partnership and cooperation between ministers and government agencies as well as the spirit of the team spirit. For the citizen service.

"We do not aspire to carry everything, but we are working to open the doors of investment and improve the environment," he said, pointing out that there are investments quality, such as medical waste, needed by experienced and experienced foreign investors. SE Majid Al Qasabi concluded his conversation by referring to a number of initiatives of the Ministry of Commerce and Investment, such as the Center for Fighting Defective Products, aimed at boosting electronic commerce, to fight against fraud and concealment and to create a unified information center for the consumer.